Northern, Stone Child, Aaniiih Nakoda receiving pandemic emergency funding

Havre Daily News staff

Montana’s U.S. senators have announced that Montana universities and colleges, including the Havre, Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap institutions, are receiving funding to help with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Montana State University-Northern in Havre will receive $911,258; Stone Child College on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation will receive $216,798, and Aaniiih Nakoda College on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation willl receive $114,359.

“I’ve heard from educators across our state that the COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a huge blow to Montana’s colleges and universities, forcing them to close their doors to students and faculty,” Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said. in a press release “So I fought to secure this funding so that our colleges and universities can weather this storm. We depend on these higher education institutions to teach our next generation of leaders, pursue advancements in research and technology, and drive our economy — and this funding is critical to helping them continue their work amid today’s uncertainty.”

Tester’s release said the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act included allocation of $32 million in critical relief funding for more than 25 Montana colleges and universities to mitigate shortfalls and provide financial aid to students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A release from U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., said U.S. Department of Education will be directing $31,412,577 to Montana colleges and universities. $15,518,482 will go to providing direct emergency cash grants to students for expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, health care and childcare.

“Montana college students have seen their lives and education disrupted because of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic,” Daines, who is running for re-election and faces John Driscoll of Helena and Daniel Larson of Stevensville in the Republican primary election, said in the release. “This critical funding I fought to secure in the Coronavirus Economic Recovery Package will help our students get the relief they need during this crisis and lift any burdens they might have because of the disruption to their education.”

The $31,412,577 in funding directed for Montana colleges and universities, will provide direct cash grants to Montana students and cover coronavirus-related costs that the university or college faced, Daines’ release said. Of the $31,412,577, each university or college must direct half of its award to its students through emergency financial aid.

Tester’s release said the other award amounts are:

• Great Falls College Montana State University — $845,222

• Helena College University Of Montana — $685,627

• Montana Academy Of Salon — $152,333

• Montana State University – Billings — $2,193,195  

• Montana State University Bozeman — $10,560,079

• Montana Technological University — $1,676,199

• University Of Montana — $7,652,275

• University Of Montana Western — $1,164,902

• Flathead Valley Community College — $925,144

• Carroll College — $941,622

• Rocky Mountain College — $933,392

• University Of Providence — $376,995

• Salish Kootenai College — $832,524  

• Blackfeet Community College — $266,062

• Chief Dull Knife College — $103,368

• Fort Peck Community College — $151,493

• Miles Community College — $246,778

• Dawson Community College — $142,151

• Aaniiih Nakoda College — $114,359

• Little Big Horn College — $260,189

• Bitterroot School Of Cosmetology — $60,612

• Academy of Cosmetology — $43,527

• Bold Beauty Academy — $151,384

• Butte Academy Of Beauty Culture — $77,189

• Crevier’s School of Cosmetology — $188,300

• Pima Medical Institute — $340,233